March 29, 2024

American Legion Davis Pence Post 69

The American Legion was chartered by congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran’s organization with a focus on service to veterans, service members and communities. Today there are more than 24 million legion members in the 14,000 posts world wide.

“I’ve really enjoyed the camaraderie with the guys and I’m really proud of all the things we do,” said John Sharp, who served in the Navy from 1963-66 and has been a member of the Davis Pence Post 69 legion in Osceola for 11 years.

The Legion in Osceola does a number of things for the community. It works with the Clarke Elementary School staff in encouraging participation in the “Legion Fifth Grade Flag Essay Contest” each year. The purpose of the essay contest is for students to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation for the United States flag and gain knowledge of flag etiquette and respect for the flag.

The Legion supports Boy Scouts of America with matching scholarships and recognition to adult scout leaders.

It also participates in the Veterans Day at the Capitol each year where legionaries and veterans from Iowa come to speak with their senators and representatives about issues confronting veterans and military members in Iowa.

Members of the Davis Pence Post 69 Legion also work closely with Kale Funeral Home in order to perform an Honor Guard gun salute and presentation of the colors to next of kin for any veterans’ families. Members of the Legion in Osceola will also work with members from Legions in Murray and Woodburn in order to have enough manpower for color presentations should the need arise.

The Legion members in Osceola participate in and support the Hawkeye Boys State program and A Constitutional Speech Contest. Boys State is a weeklong “hands on” training program in citizenship and democracy held at Camp Dodge each year in June. A Constitutional Speech Contest is also known as the National High School Oratorical Contest and is meant to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States.

The Legion also maintains a well-stocked medical supply facility and loans out, free of charge, equipment such as hospital beds, wheel chairs, lift chairs, walkers and other items. The service is available to anyone who needs it, not just veterans. The Legion loan closet is so well maintained that equipment goes out to those in need in surrounding counties, not just this community. John Sharp runs the loan closet, but any Legion member can help get items to those in need.

The Davis Pence Post 69 Legion also is available to receive worn out and unserviceable flags from anyone for proper disposal.

“When volume dictates, we conduct a flag retirement ceremony,” said Dave Gorsline, who served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1976 in the administration field.

Boy Scouts are occasionally able to participate in the flag retirement ceremonies as well.

The local Legion members, with the assistance of community volunteers post the large U.S. flags at Maple Hill Cemetery on Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day. In addition, with the assistance of the cemetery crew, small U.S. flags are placed at every veteran’s grave site on Memorial Day.

For veterans who have served during periods of war or armed conflict and who were honorably discharged wishing to join the Davis Pence Post 69 American Legion call Legion Commander Eric Barr at 641-342-9048.

“If someone was in one of those gap years there are other service organizations they can be involved in,” said Barr, who served in the Air Force from 1991 to 2013 and has been a member of the Legion for four years.